| |
Miguel
I set up the balcony with a couple tiki torches and a selection of liquor’s and beers while Emily changes into something less sandy she said. This could come back to bite me in the ass and I knew it once the words slipped out of my mouth. That’s what I get for flying so close to the flames that are Emily, eventually I will get burnt badly to the point of no moving forward. Looking out over the sandy beach to the ocean I remember why this has become my favorite place to hide over the years, it reminds me of her, so pretty and calming. Waiting for her to show I pour a drink and sit down on a lounger. In a few minutes, I hear her coming back through the house grumbling to herself. I know the speech she’s giving herself I’ve heard her give it a million times.
“You can do this, and you can keep your mouth shut if you really try.”
See the only problem with her theory is she can’t be quite sober let alone drunk.
“Miguel, who the hell is drinking and sharing out here tonight that’s a lot of alcohol for the two of us.”
“Calm down I just wanted to give us a variety and it takes me more to get a buzz than you.”
Pouring myself a Jack I climb up into the hammock and curl into a comfy spot. “Alright we both have a drink, who gets to start this little game?” Laughing at him, “oh I know let’s play quarters to see who tells the first secret.”
“That doesn’t seem like a fair game I did the college thing Emily, so I got good at dropping that damn quarter. Maybe we should play a high or low card to see who goes first that’s more of a chance game than quarters.”
“Really, so since I didn’t spend four years of my life in a dorm or apartment I can’t play quarters? If you’re scared just say so and we can go with your other game.”
“That mouth is going to get you in big trouble one day, but I’ll take your first secret and I’ll also take your last one of the night. If we are breaking out the shot glasses your drinking everyone I sink and vice versa.”
Men drive me nuts they think they are the only ones who know how to play stupid drinking games I’ve been playing this game for years I’m no damn pro, but I can drop a quarter. Five rounds in and I’m as sober as any other night, yeah let him suck on his lime right now, teach him to be a caveman. Finally, I just slam back my first drink. “Alright Mr. Parks I’ve been nice up to now, but as you can see I’m still sober and I haven’t heard one secret yet.”
“Emily, you’re a horrible lady just for the record! What to tell what to tell give me a minute. Remember all those years back when Blake got beat up so bad and you thought it might have been Toni? It was me when I found out he had sacrificed your safety in the middle of the night for a fix. I’d wanted to kill him, that’s why I left the country for the holidays that year.” Looking up as I give the last bit of the secret I see she’s a bit paler than usual. “Are you sure about this game Emily?”
“Yes, I just never would have thought you were the one who would have done it. I just always assumed it was Toni and everyone agreed to keep it quiet.” Pouring myself another three fingers of Jack I slam it back, alright how do we move on from that? Feeling the warmth of the second drink hit my stomach and spread out through my body as my muscles loosen up. “Guess it’s time for me to give one up. It was less than a year into our marriage when Blake used again, and we had to start back over with the with-drawls and everything again.”
“Damn, I don’t know how to follow up on that one I figured the first four years where good, that’s what I was lead to believe anyway.” Grabbing a bottle of Rum, I just chug from the bottle. “How do I balance that secret out? I never told the woman I was in love with I even knew her name let alone that I was in love with her.”
“Miguel, are you playing with me? How did that make you decided you were never going to fall in love again? If you didn’t tell her then how you know she didn’t feel the same way about you?” Grabbing the bottle of Jack up I take a drink.
“Blake cheated on me with party girls.” Another drink from the bottle.
“She didn’t Emily! Within three years of meeting her, she was married to someone else and never even looked around.” Her secrets are starting to spill and the more she chugs that bottle the more she will tell, but she will have anger to deal with along the way. “I have only told two people who the girl I fell in love with was and one of them is no longer here.”
Leaning my head back I look at the sky I don’t want to play this game anymore I’ve done too many shots and chugs to keep my mind clear.
“No fair Miguel, I want the name because someone needs to inform that woman she was straight up stupid. Anyone who caught you should think they were the luckiest person. Hell, I would have protected you with my life if I had been the winner of your heart.”
Copying Miguel’s poster, I lean my head back and look at the sky. “Are there answers up there or are we just taking a break from the game?”
“Emily, we can stop anytime you’d like it’s all up to you. As far as finding answers to your questions in life, you should share the question before the answer is found. You’ll not find it written in the stars, or anywhere else.” Maybe she’s onto something though, we both are feeling no pain now maybe it’s best to call it a night.
“Ass, I’ve never been fucked, and I mean really fucked. None of the lovey crap people write songs about, I just want to have raw toe-curling sex.” Dropping my head back down I just told my biggest secret.
Alright, that got my attention from head to toe and everywhere in between. Looking over at her I see she is just lying back looking at the sky again. Thinking as I watch for a movement, that’s a hell of a secret to be dropping on someone.
“Emily, I don’t know how to respond to that secret I know the way I want to, but I also know there are better ways of responding.”
“The first thing that pops into your head is usually the right answer to the question, Miguel.”
Figuring I don’t have much to lose at this point.
“Emily, there’s one thing that I’m very good at, that thing just happens to be fucking, so if you ever find yourself wanting to be educated let me know. It’ll not interfere with our personal lives because fucking/sex is not an emotional connection, you don’t let feelings get involved. It’s an act between two adults just like having dinner, you both get something out of it. Now, this is where I’m going to call it a night Emily before I do something we can’t undo.”
Standing from the lounger I brush a kiss on top of her head and go inside looking for a pair of swim trunks.
